Article from La Opinion 7-18-10 PA-3 on the "serve the people" work that RAC-LA (Revolutionary Autonomous Communities-Los Angeles have been doing for 2 3/4 years in MacArthur Park following the police riot there on May Day 2007.

(JAI: I am afraid that the writer gives much too much attention to myself. For the record, I was and am one of the founding members of RAC. However, the credit for the idea and the work, the heart and the soul must go to my comrade, Mauricio. The first week of August marks 2 years and 9 months that RAC has 'served the people' every Sunday averaging well over 100 people with a workforce of 20-25 volunteer members of RAC. The Google translation is extremely rough (as for where it says that people come to "beg" for food. Anyone who has been to the Food Program knows better than that.

About 200 people line up every Sunday in the park to get a box of fruit and vegetables. Food is donated by grocery stores that they can not have them in their desks . Ciro Cesar / La Opinion 1/2 It started as a personal action, goodwill by John A. Imani about two years ago , and over time has been joined by others.

It is a work of volunteers.

Every Sunday , Imani and downloaded a bunch of these boxes with vegetables and fruit on the side of MacArthur Park , and donated to people who need them. Almost 100 % of them are Latinos who have dragged the economic situation to accept food gifts .

The project began with ten boxes , and now are around a hundred. Fruits , vegetables and legumes.

"We have seen up to 200 people who come to beg for food , "said Imani , who lives in South Los Angeles. Estimated that up to now has carried out 150 grants.

In his work have been added dozens of employees. At first some of them approached him to ask for food, now providing a helping hand to others.

"Look, are happy to help, " Imani said pointing to the volunteers ..

One is René Jijón, who joined the group Imani two or three months ago .

"We started at 9:30 and we have been closing at three or three and a half , "he explained . He said the food bank project was growing unemployment.

Underlying their efforts is the economic downturn of the last two years, which economists say is expressed in the highest unemployment rate since the days of the Great Depression. These days, food banks , sanctioned or not proliferate.

Imani collects food from grocery stores and other businesses who donate products no longer can have on the counter because they are a little old . At first glance , however , fruits and vegetables displayed on the lawn of McArthur look good. Certainly those who take them home to eat do not find shelter.

Antonia Samudio, who lives with her daughter in an apartment complex in Beverly Street (a few blocks from McArthur ) , said he learned of the deal by the mouth of a couple in the street.

"It's the first day I come , "he said .

Foodbank Los Angeles, a store operating in humanitarian County anticipates that this year the persistence of unemployment will create a difficult situation in the food supply , especially in regard to children and the elderly.

According to the foundation , one in seven Angelenos suffering from hunger today.

With the extension of a Federal Government program known as food donation CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) , Foodbank Los Angeles began to reach more locations and more often , where food is needed .

But the need is enormous, and as the economy recovers , the non-institutional food banks as John Imani will remain active .

It started as a personal action, goodwill John A. Imani About two years ago , and over time has been joined by others.

It is a work of volunteers.

Every Sunday , Imani and downloaded a bunch of these boxes with vegetables and fruit on the side of MacArthur Park, and donated to people who need them. Almost 100 % of them are Latinos who have dragged the economic situation to accept food gifts .

The project began with ten boxes , and now are around a hundred. Fruits , vegetables and legumes.

"We have seen up to 200 people who come to beg for food , "said Imani , who lives in South Los Angeles. Estimated that up to now has carried out 150 grants.

In his work have been added dozens of employees. At first some of them approached him to ask for food, now providing a helping hand to others.

"Look, are happy to help, " Imani said pointing to the volunteers ..

One is René Jijón, who joined the group Imani two or three months ago .

"We started at 9:30 and we have been closing at three or three and a half , "he explained . He said the food bank project was growing unemployment.

Underlying their efforts is the economic downturn of the last two years, which economists say is expressed in the highest unemployment rate since the days of Great Depression. These days, food banks , sanctioned or not proliferate.

Imani collects food from grocery stores and other businesses who donate products no longer can have on the counter because they are a little old . At first glance , however , fruits and vegetables displayed on the lawn of McArthur look good. Certainly those who take them home to eat do not find shelter.